On a break for home buying...

Hey guys! So I'm going to be on a reading break because we are in the process if finding our first home. Even if we don't within the next couple of months, we are still moving out of our current location. So this means, I'll be busy packing and looking at houses! It's been crazy busy lately and I haven't picked up a book in over a week! I'll try get on here and try to read when I can. :)

Ugly Love- Colleen Hoover

I love Colleen Hoover! I fell in love with her writing with the Slammed series. She is definitely not a one hit wonder. This book was just as good as her others.

She introduces us to Tate and Miles. She's obsessed with her career and is really focused on that. Miles is her brothers neighbor and a pilot. She meets him at one of his worst moments but she has no idea. You know what is going to happen with them but you have no idea what is in Miles past. He is severely scarred from his past. What I love about this book is that Hoover, she alternates her chapters between the past and present.

We slowly get what happened to Miles 6 years ago. Right away, I knew it was going to be a heart jerker. It was devastating! Ah! I was bawling.

I really loved Cap. I think it was a great addition to this book. Just love the idea that he and Miles go way back. The whole time that Tate was venting to him, so was Miles. It was also great to get a few chapters at the end in Miles point of view. He was totally struggling just as much, if not more, than Tate.

Can't wait to read what Hoover comes out with next!

Friday Finds #3

 

Friday Finds are a weekly meme hosted by Shouldbereading

Showcase the books you have found and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list. It doesn't matter if you found them online, in a bookstore or in the library. They don't even have to be books you have purchased!

So show us your finds!! There's never enough books on your TBR, so this is a good way to add more!

Here are mine:

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 

Hot girls get the fairy tales. No one cares about the stepsisters' story. Those girls don't get a sweet little ending; they get a lifetime of longing

Imogen Keegen has never had a happily ever after–in fact, she doesn’t think they are possible. Ever since her mother’s death seven years ago, Imogen has pulled herself in and out of therapy, struggled with an “emotionally disturbed” special ed. label, and loathed her perma-plus-sized status.

When Imogen’s new stepsister, the evil and gorgeous Ella Cinder, moves in down the hall, Imogen begins losing grip on the pieces she’s been trying to hold together. The only things that gave her solace–the theatre, cheese fries, and her best friend, Grant–aren’t enough to save her from her pain this time.

While Imogen is enjoying her moment in the spotlight after the high school musical, the journal pages containing her darkest thoughts get put on display. Now, Imogen must resign herself to be crushed under the ever-increasing weight of her pain, or finally accept the starring role in her own life story.

And maybe even find herself a happily ever after.

 

-This was recommended to me by a fellow Goodreads friend.

 

 

 

 

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 

Winner of the 2012 Australian Text Prize

"When I was little I believed in Jesus and Santa, spontaneous combustion, and the Loch Ness monster. Now I believe in science, statistics, and antibiotics." So says seventeen-year-old Zac Meier during a long, grueling leukemia treatment in Perth, Australia. A loud blast of Lady Gaga alerts him to the presence of Mia, the angry, not-at-all-stoic cancer patient in the room next door. Once released, the two near-strangers can't forget each other, even as they desperately try to resume normal lives. The story of their mysterious connection drives this unflinchingly tough, tender novel told in two voices.

 

- Saw this one advertised on goodreads. Sounds so good. Can't wait to read this.

 

 

 

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 

Can you hear Atlantia breathing?

For as long as she can remember, Rio has dreamt of the sand and sky Above—of life beyond her underwater city of Atlantia. But in a single moment, all her plans for the future are thwarted when her twin sister, Bay, makes an unexpected decision, stranding Rio Below. Alone, ripped away from the last person who knew Rio’s true self—and the powerful siren voice she has long hidden—she has nothing left to lose.

Guided by a dangerous and unlikely mentor, Rio formulates a plan that leads to increasingly treacherous questions about her mother’s death, her own destiny, and the complex system constructed to govern the divide between land and sea. Her life and her city depend on Rio to listen to the voices of the past and to speak long-hidden truths.

 

- Saw this one had a sneak peek on netgalley. I thought her last series was okay, but i'll give her another try.

 

 

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

In this bestselling and delightfully quirky debut novel from Sweden, a grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door.

Meet Ove. He's a curmudgeon - the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him the "bitter neighbor from hell". But must Ove be bitter just because he doesn't walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time?

Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove's mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents' association to their very foundations.

A feel-good story in the spirit of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, Fredrik Backman's novel about the angry old man next door is a thoughtful and charming exploration of the profound impact one life has on countless others.

 

- This one was added to my TBR list on Wed. I saw it on netgalley and read it yesterday. It was SOO good. I thought it deserved mentioning, even though, I already read it. It was all within two days, so it counts towards the TBR list this week. :-)

A Man Called Ove- Fredrik Backman

 

 

I want to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

This was an amazing book! I got started it this morning and I just couldn't put it down. It was recommended at work last night (library) and I was so excited to see that Netgalley offered this book. You will seriously go through so many emotions. I laughed out loud several times and cried as well. It was just so moving and a wonderful story. The writing was just so great and the story flowed so well. I devoured this book and I never thought twice about spending my whole day reading this book!

This book is about Ove. He is struggling with the fact that he lost his wife and no longer wants to live without her. He has a very strange personality. He kind of reminds me of a not-as-crazy, Sheldon from Big Bang. He is very particular about things and his wife called him, "the most in inflexible man in the world." He has specific rules and schedules for everything. He doesn't really care to be involved in his neighbors lives, and ignores them. He keeps to himself because he thinks everyone is just idiotic and doesn't want to put up with them. He is seen as a grumpy old man but it's really not true. I think more than anything, he is just misunderstood by many. He may have a certain personality that comes off that way, but he seriously has the biggest heart. He will help people and call them an idiot while doing so but secretly enjoy helping. He will help out anyone who needs it, even if it's taking something from him.

Everyday, he is convinced he is going to kill himself to be with his wife. Until the neighbors move in and start to ruin his days by barging into his life. I think that all along Parvenah knows his struggle. Without knowing it, this family saves him.

The story is just so full of love and hope. I love how we get his background as well. The author will take you back into the beginning of Ove's life and continue his story throughout the book. You understand him and why he is the way he is. You learn about his life with Sonja and the love and hard times they shared. Even though, he had a rough exterior, his inside is like a teddy bear! I just fell in love with his character and all the amazing characters surrounding him.

Such a great story! I HIGHLY recommend this book!!

 

 

 

Nest by Esther Ehrlich

 

I received this from Netgalley. Thanks to them and the publisher for inviting me to read this book!! This was such an emotional, realistic read. Most books for middle school and even YA have a unrealistic story or ending. This book was completely real. It's something that many children and families have had to deal with. The moment I started this book, I was pulled into the story. I got about half way last night and thought it was just such a cute story. Then this morning, I finished the book and realized how sad it actually is. Ehrlich, didn't just touch on one families difficulties, she touched on a few of them.

 

       Naomi, is the main character and it's her kind of coming of age story. Her life is pretty great, until it all changes. I wasn't sure how the bird obsession would pan out, but it was actually one of her saving graces. I learned a lot about birds that I didn't know! She builds a nest as a sanctuary, when her real life nest has fallen apart. Her mom becomes clinically depressed and Naomi and her sister have a tough time reaching their mother.

 

        Not only is that a tough situation, Joey, is dealing with child abuse. The two of them are neighbors and end up befriending one another. You never know what to expect from Joey since he's from a "troubled" family. His brothers are pretty mean and rough but he somehow is different. He helps Naomi, like no one else could. When she is lost and is unreachable, he reaches her. When they run off together, you could just feel how he is terrified of being caught. He's terrified of having to go home but yet, he does it for her. These two kids are in a dark place but they help each other deal.

 

      There's a part that really hits you, emotionally, when Naomi calls her father. She's finally coming to terms with what has happened and she's a mess. Joey has her call her father and it's just so great to see how she could depend on her father. You could feel his worry and her sadness. He was there for her when she needed him. On the other hand, Joey, didn't have that. I remember thinking, this poor boy. He sees right in front of him, what he wishes he could have.

 

This was a great book and I'm surprised that it's a middle grade book with all the tough subjects. I would recommend this to anyone. It's a sad story but at the end you feel satisfied with Naomi's story. Thanks again to Netgalley for the invitation to read this! So glad I had the opportunity to read a great book!

Teaser Tuesday #6

   - A weekly meme by Should Be Reading

If you would like to participate, this is how you do so: (directions from Should Be Reading)

•  Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• share 2 teaser sentences from somewhere on that page.
• Try not to include spoilers! Share the title & author, in case someone would like to add to their TBR shelf.

My Teaser:

 

"I try spreading the books out in front of me on the rug, closing my eyes, and pointing, but the trouble is that I remember which book is where, and so it's the same as picking one and I just can't."

 

-13% finished on my Kindle.

 

 

 I loved this because she's trying to decide what kind of book she wants to read. I relate to that because I have so much to choose from, it makes it hard to decide what to read next!! :-)

 

Share your teaser in the comments!

The Secret Place- Tana French

 

 

 

I want to thank the publisher and netgalley for providing me with an ebook. This is my second book by Tana French. I read her first book and have the other three. I just haven't had to time to read them yet. I'm glad. I really like her books.

 

This whole book takes place in the span of one day, when detectives are trying to figure out a cold case. There is a mysterious note that pops up at the all girls school, claiming they know who killed Chris. When one of the girls takes it to detective Stephen, they immediately go to the school and start their interviewing process all over. They have their suspects down to, two group of girls, which turns out they hate each other. So here is where the game starts and the girls are throwing these detectives in a long game of who did it.

 

What I really liked about this was that I never knew who actually did it, until the detectives knew. I had so many theories and suspicions that just happened to be wrong. I'm pretty good at this type of thing but when it comes to girl politics, it's pretty convoluted. They have so many games and stories, it's hard to figure out what is truth and what is a lie.

 

All I can say is, Wow! This whole book is about a close group of girls who will do anything for each other. I mean anything. I'm amazed at the length of what they do and lie about to help each other out. It's a no questions asked type of thing. They just do what they think is best for their friends. Although, this gets them into a lot of trouble that is unnecessary. If only they were honest with each other.

 

This was a lengthy book and I sometimes found myself getting a little bored with the excessive details. Usually, I like this sort of thing but I found myself getting a little impatient with the storyline. I think the fact that the whole entire book is based on one day, made it a little boring. They can only interview the girls and ask the same questions so many times. The interviews were really lengthy and there were a lot of redundant questions.

 

 I did love the fact that she alternated chapters between the detectives in present day and the actual events told by the girls in the past. This way you kind of get tension going and throughout the book you get both sides. It kind of helps you figure out who did it, right before the detectives figure it out. You get the whole story and see what was going on that led the murder of Chris.

 

 

Musing Mondays #2

 

 

This is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.  It asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it!
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to book.

 

This week.. is a bit of a rant. I'm wondering if anyone has ever felt overwhelmed with reading? I know, weird! I have had 10 books that I have received/won over the last couple weeks. I was told that with books you need to review, they have to be done ASAP, or the chances of you getting more are slim. So I try to get them finished within 2 weeks that I receive them.

 

   Don't get me wrong, I LOVE getting free books! It's just that all the books came in at the same time! Ususally, goodreads books take 4-6 weeks to come in. I wasn't expecting all three to come in the next week! So I feel a bit overwhelmed and I still have 3 more to go. The funny thing is, I feel like I have to read them now and the excitement has dropped off. Maybe the gloomy weather it just making me feel that way. Just wondering if it's only me. Have a great Monday everyone!!! :)

 

 

Conversion- Katherine Howe

 

 

I was really excited to read this because it sounded so interesting. I was pretty disappointed. This book is has two different stories and Howe flips back and forth from both stories. I thought that they would come together in the end but they did not. It turns out like two different stories.

This is a story about a bunch of  modern day, girls who have this mysteries illness and have a bunch of bizarre symptoms. The alternating story, seventeenth-century colonial life, is about girls from the same town years before, with the same weird symptoms. There are two different ways this could have gone. Howe made it very blurry on how she was committing. You are unsure if it was all fake or if there was an evil element to it. She leaves it up to the reader to interpret the ending how they want.

I was half way through this book and I couldn't believe nothing really happened. I feel like there wasn't much of a plot and a lot of the book was just too much fluff. I felt bored at times and just couldn't wait to get it over with. The ending was just completely anticlimactic and I was felt very annoyed. I really don't have much to say. It was just an okay book but I felt like it was a waste of time. :(

W.W.W. (8/13)

This is a weekly meme by Should Be Reading

 

 

To Play along, just answer the following three questions:

1. What are you currently reading?

2. What did you recently finish reading?

3  What do you plan to read next?

 

 

What I'm Currently Reading:

 

 

Blurb from Goodreads: 

 

The photo on the card shows a boy who was found murdered, a year ago, on the grounds of a girls’ boarding school in the leafy suburbs of Dublin. The caption says, I KNOW WHO KILLED HIM.

Detective Stephen Moran has been waiting for his chance to get a foot in the door of Dublin’s Murder Squad—and one morning, sixteen-year-old Holly Mackey brings him this photo. The Secret Place, a board where the girls at St. Kilda’s School can pin up their secrets anonymously, is normally a mishmash of gossip and covert cruelty, but today someone has used it to reignite the stalled investigation into the murder of handsome, popular Chris Harper. Stephen joins forces with the abrasive Detective Antoinette Conway to find out who and why.

But everything they discover leads them back to Holly’s close-knit group of friends and their fierce enemies, a rival clique—and to the tangled web of relationships that bound all the girls to Chris Harper. Every step in their direction turns up the pressure. Antoinette Conway is already suspicious of Stephen’s links to the Mackey family. St. Kilda’s will go a long way to keep murder outside their walls. Holly’s father, Detective Frank Mackey, is circling, ready to pounce if any of the new evidence points toward his daughter. And the private underworld of teenage girls can be more mysterious and more dangerous than either of the detectives imagined.

The Secret Place is a powerful, haunting exploration of friendship and loyalty, and a gripping addition to the Dublin Murder Squad series.

 

--I received this from netgalley. I want to thank them and the publisher for a copy! I am about 30% through on kindle and I am really interested. I read the first book in this series and really liked it. I have the other three but haven't had a chance to read them. So when I saw this on netgalley, I requested it. I was pretty stoked to receive a copy!

 

 

What I Recently Finished:

 

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 

Check out the #1 New York Times bestseller Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, called “a surefire hit” by Entertainment Weekly.

Sometimes it’s the little lies that turn out to be the most lethal. . . .
  A murder… . . . a tragic accident… . . . or just parents behaving badly?
What’s indisputable is that someone is dead.   But who did what?
  Big Little Lies follows three women, each at a crossroads:   Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline’s youngest (how is this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline’s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline’s ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?).
Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn’t be, with those rambunctious twin boys? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become the king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay.   New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.
  Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive. 

 

 

--I LOVED this book!! I got through it so fast because I couldn't put it down. It's a great read and I Highly recommend it! I just reviewed it too, if you want a bit more information!

 

What I'm Reading Next:   

1.

 

 

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 

For fans of Jennifer Holm (Penny from Heaven, Turtle in Paradise), a heartfelt and unforgettable middle-grade novel about an irresistible girl and her family, tragic change, and the healing power of love and friendship. In 1972 home is a cozy nest on Cape Cod for eleven-year-old Naomi “Chirp” Orenstein, her older sister, Rachel; her psychiatrist father; and her dancer mother. But then Chirp’s mom develops symptoms of a serious disease, and everything changes.
   Chirp finds comfort in watching her beloved wild birds. She also finds a true friend in Joey, the mysterious boy who lives across the street. Together they create their own private world and come up with the perfect plan: Escape. Adventure. Discovery.
   Nest is Esther Ehrlich’s stunning debut novel. Her lyrical writing is honest, humorous, and deeply affecting. Chirp and Joey will steal your heart. Long after you finish Nest, the spirit of Chirp and her loving family will stay with you.

 

 

-- I was invited to read this from netgalley. I think it sounds cute so I'm excited to read it!

 

2.

 

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 

In What I Had Before I Had You by Sarah Cornwell, a woman must face the truth about her past in this luminous, evocative literary novel of parents and children, guilt and forgiveness, memory and magical thinking, set in the faded, gritty world of the New Jersey Shore.

Olivia was only fifteen the summer she left her hometown of Ocean Vista. Two decades later, on a visit with her children, her nine-year-old son Daniel, recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder, disappears. Olivia's search for him sparks tender and painful memories of her past--of her fiercely loving and secretive mother, Myla, an erratic and beautiful psychic, and the discovery of heartbreaking secrets that shattered her world.

 

--I won this from a Goodreads, giveaway. I just received it and I'll be reading it here soon. Sounds interesting!

 

Those are my books. Feel free to share yours in the comments!!!

 

Big Little Lies- Liane Moriarty

 

 I saw this book was coming out and had to read it. I had no idea what it was about but I really enjoyed, The Husband's Secret. I got this from the library and started it that night. I got through this book so fast because I became immersed into this story.

It alternates chapters between three different stories, Madeline, Jane and Celeste. It starts with a detective asking questions about a murder that took place at a school event. It then jumps back to months before the event and introduces us to the main characters and their stories leading up to the night. Jane and her son Ziggy are the new ones in town. Madeline instantly takes her under her wing. Celeste and Madeline have known each other for a while, so the three of them become fast friends. 

This is basically all about drama, drama, drama. You know when you are in high school and there are tons of "cliques" and you think when you get out, it will be over. This books shines the light on the truth! It never goes away! There are still cliques when your children are in school.. with the other parents. One of the things I loved about this book was that at each chapter there were some of the other parents giving their insight to what happened throughout the year. Things that happened were completely blown out of proportion. You can see how people see things how they want to, not as they are.

There is a dark tone to this book because there is the subject of domestic violence. I really liked how the author handled this situation. There were some grey lines and caused a lot of hesitation and doubt. I think there are  a lot of people who may deal with that and it's good to see her shine a light one it.

There were a lot of twists and turns and a murder mystery! There a was a lot going on in this book and it really keeps you hooked. I caught myself only wanting to read 50 pages before bed and before I knew it, I was over 100 pages in! One of the things I really enjoy about this author, are the grey lines and boundaries she crosses. They always make you think about what you would do in the situation. Is it right to be wrong? I highly recommend this book!!

 

The Color of Home by Rich Marcello

 

 

I won this book from a Goodreads, first-reads giveaway. I would like to thank the author for the signature and publisher for the copy.

 

I really enjoyed this book. It started off a little slow for me but after about 50 pages, it started to take off. When you start the first chapter, you kind of just get thrown into the middle of this story. I felt like I was missing something or thrown into the middle of a conversation. After a couple chapters, you kind of get what's going on and I'm glad I stuck with this book.

 

This is about a couple who meet, Sassa and Nick, and how they seem to want to be together at the wrong times. They both have a troubled past filled with death and loneliness. It's part of the reason they are so attracted to each other. Sassa is convinced that she needs to experience more to find the "whole" of herself and makes this game plan to never stick with a relationship more than a year and always on the move. This is what happens after a year with Nick. So the rest of this book is of them living their separate lives, with no contact, a year at a time. Each year, they are both at different places in life and it turns out they just are never on the same page. Finally, when Sassa is ready to be with Nick, he is not ready to be with her. This continues their separation.

 

I actually really loved how these characters went through so much and always knew what they wanted. It's funny how timing just sometimes never works. There was some spiritual elements to this book as well and a lot of reflection. It was crazy to see how things just work out and sometimes the truth is staring at you in the face.

 

This was a great story and I'm so glad I was a winner! I will be reading more from this author!

Teaser Tuesday (8/12)

   - A weekly meme by Should Be Reading

If you would like to participate, this is how you do so: (directions from Should Be Reading)

•  Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• share 2 teaser sentences from somewhere on that page.
• Try not to include spoilers! Share the title & author, in case someone would like to add to their TBR shelf.

My Teaser:

"I don't know. She's either one of the wisest women I've ever heard about or she's scared and a fantastic liar."
---pg.100, The Color of Home by Rich Marcello


I won this from a goodreads giveaway and am really enjoying it so far!

Here's the blurb from goodreads:

Can two people stay connected for a lifetime and each know the complete truth about the other? When New Yorker Nick Satterborn falls in love with Sassa Vikander, he's convinced the answer is yes. Nick Satterborn. Songwriter. Dabbler on the spiritual path. Survivor.

Sassa Vikander. Stunning chef. Seeker on the path of most resistance. Survivor.

Contentment percolates for a time, until the two are hurtled into a life of uncertainty, self-evaluation, and growth. Each dreams heroic dreams of overcoming his/her past, rising out of sadness, rediscovering home, finding peace. Their worlds dissolve and reform. People and events threaten to tear them apart.

The Color of Home is a story of love, of loss, of digging deep down to the bottom of things until maybe, just maybe, Nick and Sassa find the strength to become whole. Their journey offers a unique, honest glimpse into the life and love of a palpably rare relationship of our time.

No In between by Lisa Renee Jones

 

I received this book through netgalley. I would like to thank the publisher for the copy of this ebook. This is the 4th book in the series.

This book flowed really well and made it so easy to read. I just flew through this book. Maybe it was all the twists and turns. This book had so much going on that it was very entertaining. These characters have grown so much. Sara and Chris's relationship has come so far and it's great to see the details of how it has happened. Mark isn't really a huge part of the book but is. It's kind of hard to explain. Maybe that he doesn't have a lot of dialogue but he has a big presence in the plot.

I really enjoy the fact that this book has a lot of suspense. It's not just a focused on the intimate relationship of the couple. I think that looking for Rebecca, really added to this series. It's not your typical, they meet, have sex and fall in love. There's more characters and a bigger focus on everyone around them.  I'm not sure how I feel about all these women being tied up with the dominant men. Anyways,  Chris and Sara have been through a lot and I feel their happily ever after is right around the corner. I just have to say.. I would not be surprised if Rebecca is ALIVE!

Until the next book...

WWW- August 6

This is a weekly meme by Should Be Reading

 

 

To Play along, just answer the following three questions:

1. What are you currently reading?

2. What did you recently finish reading?

3  What do you plan to read next?

 

 

What I'm Currently Reading:

 

 

Blurb from goodreads:

A murder… . . . a tragic accident… . . . or just parents behaving badly?

What’s indisputable is that someone is dead. But who did what?

Big Little Lies follows three women, each at a crossroads: Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline’s youngest (how is this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline’s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline’s ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?).

Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn’t be, with those rambunctious twin boys? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become the king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay. New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.

Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive.

 

 

I just started this last night and I can't wait to finish this! I'm hooked. I flew through 100 pages. It's my night read and I usually read 50 pages before bed. I passed that and stayed up a little late. I've started a new thing where I read books I have to read and review during the day and personal books at night. Well only while I have books to review. Anyways, this is so interesting and will probably get through this pretty quickly!



What I just finished:

 

 

This is a book that was provided to me through netgalley. I didn't know what to expect and I liked it okay. It wasn't as great as the reviews. I did also get the fourth book through netgalley, so I'll be reading that. I'm not sure if I'm looking forward to it or not.

 

What I'm reading Next:

 

 

Blurb from goodreads:

Can two people stay connected for a lifetime and each know the complete truth about the other? When New Yorker Nick Satterborn falls in love with Sassa Vikander, he's convinced the answer is yes. Nick Satterborn. Songwriter. Dabbler on the spiritual path. Survivor.

Sassa Vikander. Stunning chef. Seeker on the path of most resistance. Survivor.

Contentment percolates for a time, until the two are hurtled into a life of uncertainty, self-evaluation, and growth. Each dreams heroic dreams of overcoming his/her past, rising out of sadness, rediscovering home, finding peace. Their worlds dissolve and reform. People and events threaten to tear them apart.

The Color of Home is a story of love, of loss, of digging deep down to the bottom of things until maybe, just maybe, Nick and Sassa find the strength to become whole. Their journey offers a unique, honest glimpse into the life and love of a palpably rare relationship of our time.

 

 

 

This is a book that I won from a goodreads giveaway. It will be my next book and I can't wait to read it.  

 

If I Were You- Lisa Renee Jones

 

I want to thank netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this ebook. I got through this book rather quickly. It's a decent enough story but I think it raised more questions than anything.

 

All the problem that Chris has with Mark and we don't get more information on Mark. There should have been some kind of insight or something. We got nothing. Just a bunch of warnings. You definitely can tell he is totally into Sara. She totally understands that he has the certain vibe going but she doesn't seem to care. I think I have a lot of issues with Sara.

 

She took over Rebecca's job to try to find out what happened to her and totally got caught up. She didn't do much to find her and totally just blew it off to be with Chris. I mean, really? I figured that was the whole point of this book. Also, when it comes to Chris, she didn't make sense.  He warned her that she wouldn't like everything about him. She begs him to show her everything and then when he does, she completely freaks out. I mean what did she expect? 

 

Anyways, I did like that this was more about the plot than just sex. It added a lot more to the book. It kept me interested. When there's a book based more on the sexual side, I get annoyed. So this was good about keeping the plot the main focus. I did really like Chris's character. He knew what he wanted and he was always honest with Sara.

 

Overall, I liked the story enough but in the end I had so many more questions than answers. The cliffhanger at the end was pretty intense. Definitely, how you do a cliffhanger!

 

Silver Shadows- Richelle Mead

 

This is book five and I was pretty worried. The Fiery Heart, was a great book and making two more books was a bit worrisome. I worried for no reason! This was a great book and I couldn't get through it fast enough. 

 

 Right away, I was sucked right into Sydney and Adrian's world and before I knew it, the book was over. I love books like that. Granted, it is a teen book so it's a quicker read. I really liked the alternating POV's. You get so much more from the story. Also, it would have been pretty boring if the whole book was Sydney's day to day at the re-education center.

 

The way that Sydney never faltered, and kept to her guns throughout all the torture physically and mentally, was impressive. It really added so much more to her character. She put others, who treated her badly, before herself. She would go above and beyond and put herself in great danger, if it helped one person. Those are qualities that make a great heroine.

 

I was a bit disappointed to see Adrian turn to his old habits. I guess, I see where it added more to the story. I kind of feel like Nina is now going to be a pretty big enemy in the next book. If only Adrian listened, he would have avoided an extra enemy!

 

I also missed the whole gang in this book. Throughout the whole series they all have been major characters, until this book. This was basically about Adrian and Sydney. Not really a complaint, I just missed the rest of the group. I am sure the next and final book will make up for that.

 

Overall, I loved this book and I can't wait for the next and final book. I'm sure it wont disappoint! AT least, I hope not!

 

 

 

 

Teaser Tuesday -August 5

   - A weekly meme by Should Be Reading

If you would like to participate, this is how you do so: (directions from Should Be Reading)

•  Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• share 2 teaser sentences from somewhere on that page.
• Try not to include spoilers! Share the title & author, in case someone would like to add to their TBR shelf.

My Teaser:

 

"Duncan didn't judge or tear my romance apart. How could I bring up something so precious and powerful to me in front of this group, who would revile it and make it sound dirty?"

 

 -pg. 109, Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead

Please leave a comment with either the link to your own TT post or share your teaser in the comments. Thanks!

Queen of Someday- Sherry D. Ficklin

 

 

 

Queen of Someday by Sherry D. Ficklin

 

The cover is just Gorgeous!! I got sucked in right away. When I saw this on netgalley, I requested it right away. I want to thank them and the publisher for providing me a copy of the ebook.

 You know how sometimes you get lucky enough to start a book and instantly get sucked in? That's exactly what happened with this. I knew right away, I was going to love this book. It actually reminded me of a really, REALLY watered down Game of Thrones. The characters had some similarities.

 From the moment you meet, Sophie, you just love her character. She's not your typical princess. She likes to hunt, can fight off thieves and basically save your life. Of course, she's being forced into something she doesn't want to save her family. She does have to beat out some competition. You just hope that she will meet Peter and fall in love. That's not exactly what happens. I knew there was going to be a love triangle but I was not expecting a love square(?). I can't really blame her. Peter was just awful. I couldn't stand him from the beginning and I really can't wait to see how this plays out.

The ending was just beautifully done! Wow, the deception was done by a master. Go Sophie! The tables surely have turned.

I wish there would have been more information on the backgrounds of the
countries and their Empires. We don't really get much of that or who is falling into what line. For example, how is Sophie a princess? Why is her family about to lose everything? Also, some back story on any of the other characters would have added so much more to this book. I wonder if the author will have more character development in the next book. I sure do hope so.

Something that really bugged me was that the copy I received was really bad. There was a lot of grammar and formatting errors. I had many black squares and random sentences on pages. It made it hard to read at times and really slowed down my flow. I'm sure this had more to do with the copy than the author, so I can't fault the book too much.

I can't wait to see where Ficklin takes Sophie's story. I'll be looking forward to the next book!

Panic- Lauren Oliver

 

 

 

This is my first book by Lauren Oliver. I have heard a lot of conflicting reviews of her other series. I haven't read it but it is on my TBR list. I was just enticed by a stand alone book. It's so rare these days to get a stand alone teen book. I thought this book was just okay and on the fence of dislike.

 

I feel like the moral of this story is, do what you want, and you get everything you want. There were really no consequences for these characters after putting their lives on the line several times. I don't know about you but I would not want my kid reading this. I was left with a bad taste after reading this. There were so many ways she could have taken this story and she didn't do it right. I really thought she was going to redeem herself at the end. I really thought she was going to go ...there. She didn't though. There was absolutely no negatives to almost killing yourself for a game. All for money. I feel like the author just really liked that show, Fear Factor. It's an interesting concept but this book was too heavy for teens.

 

I never connected with the characters and I really disliked Natalie. She was so shallow and she was a horrible friend. I didn't like that Heather put up with it and that Dodge was so in love with her. He didn't even know her! I think I liked Bishop the most but he was just a small character. I loved the way that Heather took charge and put her sister first. She didn't take crap from her mom anymore and took her sister out of there. It was hard and took a lot of courage.

 

In the end, everything works out just peachy. I think that's what annoys me the most about this. It makes me all the more hesitant to read her other books.

 

Friday Finds (August 1)

Friday Finds are a weekly meme hosted by Shouldbereading

   Showcase the books you have found and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list.  It doesn't matter if you found them online, in a bookstore or in the library. They don't even have to be books you have purchased!

So show us your finds!! There's never enough books on your TBR, so this is a good way to add more!

Here are mine:
  

 

Suspicion by Alexandra Monir

 

-Found this one online and caught my eye. After reading the synopsis, I added it to my TBR list!

 

 

 

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

 

-There has been a craze over this series for a while now. I had a friend recommend it to me last year and never really thought about it. I ended up adding it to my TBR list this week. I know there's a show coming out but I don't have Starz. So we will see if it's as good as everyone says. Hopefully, I'll get to it soon.

 

 

 

A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray

 

 

-I saw this on Goodreads and read the synopsis. Sounds really intriguing so I went ahead and added it to my TBR. I will watch out for this one when it come through the library.